NASCAR Then and Now - Ben White [7]
By the late 1970s, the sport had grown to the point that drivers enjoyed their share of luxuries and conveniences; many drivers of that era collected good salaries, but they did not become rich.
NASCAR’s increased popularity in the 1980s brought corporate America into the sport like never before. This translated to more money and more perks for drivers. In addition to their seven-figure salaries, today’s top drivers also receive portions of race winnings, bonuses, and money generated through endorsement deals. Any modern driver will tell you he or she owes it all to the generations who built the sport into what it is today.
Richard Petty, daughter Rebecca, and wife Lynda relax in the family’s home in Level Cross, North Carolina, in the early 1970s. Petty usually worked in the Petty Enterprises shop during the week and raced for the team on the weekends. Despite his unparalleled success, Petty and his family have always lived a simple, conservative lifestyle.
Paul Goldsmith steps aboard his private airplane in 1966. Goldsmith was one of a handful of racers from his era who owned a pilot’s license.
NASCAR drivers spend plenty of time in heavy traffic during the race. One of the many privileges that come with being a top driver is being able to use helicopter transport to travel to and from the track. Here Team Penske drivers Kurt Busch (left) and Sam Hornish Jr. are flying from a sponsor function to Chicagoland Speedway in 2009.
Media Matters
Years ago, the race car driver’s responsibilities didn’t extend much further than setting up, qualifying, and racing the car. Dealing with the media wasn’t much of an issue, because aside from a handful of newspaper, magazine, and radio correspondents, there wasn’t much media covering the sport.
As NASCAR has risen in popularity over the decades, the level of media interest has grown along with it. It’s reached the point where today’s NASCAR driver must be far more than just a wheelman: He is a representative of his sponsor, his team, and his sport. NASCAR’s rules mandate that drivers be available to the media at certain set times during the weekend, with failure to do so usually resulting in a hefty fine. Every NASCAR driver understands that the media is what connects them with their fans, that media coverage generates interest in the sport, the kind of interest that has made many drivers multimillionaires. But just about every driver will tell you they feel most at home and comfortable when they are inside their race car where they can focus on what they love to do.
Fred Lorenzen’s ability to clearly describe a race made him a favorite among radio commentators in the early 1960s. Many drivers didn’t feel comfortable talking to the media and would often shy away from doing interviews. Here the ever-popular Lorenzen describes his pole-winning run at the 1964 Rebel 300 at Darlington. Lorenzen went on to win the race the following day.
Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, answers questions amid a crowd of newspaper, TV, and radio reporters. Today’s drivers get extensive coaching from their teams to help them understand the best strategies for dealing with the media. For better or worse, drivers learn that saying exactly what is on your mind isn’t always the best idea, because controversial comments have a way of coming back to haunt you.
Today, fans can get their NASCAR fix nearly every day of the week, with a number of TV shows that cover the sport from virtually every angle. Here Dale Earnhardt Jr. (far left) and Jeff Gordon (far right) talk racing with the SpeedTV NASCAR Trackside Live team of Elliott Sadler (second from left), Steve Byrnes, Larry McReynolds, and Jeff Hammond.
With so many print, radio, and TV reporters wanting to interview drivers one on one,